HC Deb 19 March 1953 vol 513 cc189-90
13. Lieut-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a further statement about his Department's investigation into the number of deaths in Greater London attributable to the fog last December.

The Minister of Health (Mr. Iain Macleod)

A detailed study of the evidence obtainable from hospitals, vital statistics and other sources is now in progress, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Does the Minister realise that the matter is one of considerable urgency, and that since I raised it in the House two months ago I have received notable reinforcement from the London County Council, which is also pressing the Minister to institute a full-scale inquiry into what is a serious menace in London?

Mr. Macleod

I quite agree that it is a most important matter, but it is precisely for that reason that, in my view, this sort of scientific investigation— because that is what it is—ought not to be hurried.

Mrs. Braddock

Could the Minister tell us whether there are included in this investigation special investigations about the very large number of people suffering from tuberculosis who died during the period of this fog?

Mr. Macleod

All matters that can reasonably be attributed to the effect of the severe fog will come within the purview of this committee.